Club Races
Elliott by a Whisker
Fyans Creek Road - Sunday
17th February 2008
Daryl Elliott came from behind to
clinch the narrowest of victories right on the line,
to take out the Grampians Vets 45km Fyans Creek Handicap.
A good field of 21 riders front in the hot but calm
conditions.
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Daryl Elliott |
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Elliott set off with fellow
second scratchmen Michael Kelly, Peter Parnaby, Steve
Monks, and Richard Clarke from the 2 minute mark.
After working well for the first two thirds of the
race, Clarke’s head cold
caught up with him over the Sandbar Road hills, and
he lost contact. However the others kept up a sizzling
pace, making it impossible for lone scratchman Ian
Blackie to make up any ground.
Like an army of ants picking up recruitments along
the way the second scratchmen caught 3.5 minute riders
Alan Barnett, Dean Hayward and Harvey Lang (having
lost Drew Heard with mechanical problems) at the top
of the first of the Sandbar Road hills.
Next, they collected 5 minute riders Gerard O'Brien,
Stuart King and Leon Gibson just before McCracken's
Hill. Limit rider Eddie McAdie had a good steady ride
but was overtaken around the halfway mark.
Next to be picked up were 7
minute riders Tom Eldridge, Tania Walter, Michael
Jensen and Peter Mayo a little before Mount Dryden,
10km from home. Surging on this large group of 15 riders
charged after the 12.5 minute riders Merv Thompson,
Frank Stokes and Shauna Heard, swallowing them up at
the channel 1km from the finish line. Shauna saw them
coming, and made a valliant charge for the line, but
was no match for the big pack that surged past at 41kph.
Charging down the final straight,
the finish was a hair raising affair with 18 riders
involved. Peter Mayo was first to make a dash for the
line, but faded and Harvey Lang took up the running,
with Mike Kelly, Leon Gibson, Alan Barnett and Daryl
Elliott all making a bid.
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Click
to enlarge |
Mike Kelly, Harvey
Lang, Daryl Elliott and Leon Gibson |
With the line rapidly approaching,
Lang and Kelly were neck and neck, but Elliott made
a late charge through a small gap on the left hand
side of the road, and with a final thrust at the line
put his wheel just in front, to take victory, with
Kelly a close second followed by Lang and Gibson.
Many thanks to Gayle Barnett for time keeping and
Nan McAdie for the refreshing water melon afterwards.
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